July 17

Today is Tuesday, July 17.  In exactly one week, I will be arriving back in the United States and be reunited with family and friends that I have not seen in 6 months.  But, in exactly six days, I will be leaving Brasil and saying goodbye to the people who have become my family and friends for the past 6 months.  And to be honest, I have never felt such conflicting emotions at the same time.  I am beyond excited to see my family, hold my nieces and nephews, and spend time with my friends again.  I lie awake at night bubbling over with joy knowing that soon we will be reunited.  But at the very same time, I can’t sleep for the tears that run down my face at the thought of having to say goodbye to these boys that have captured my heart, this home that I love, and this life that has become my new normal. 

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Thursday, July 17, 2008….it was on this day that I had my first interview ever at Wattsburg Area Middle School.  That afternoon I was called back to schedule an interview with the superintendent the next day.  By the end of that next day, I had a contract in hand and was celebrating my first teaching job.  That night I was also celebrating the wedding of my dear friend Bethany and dreaming about when I might get married.  I never would have imagined that 4 years later I would be living life in Brasil, no longer teaching, still single, but more content and blessed than I’ve ever been.  I’m so thankful that God’s ways are not my own and that as the heavens are higher than the earth so His thoughts are higher than mine.  I don’t know what life will be like 4 years from now, but based on my past experience, I’m excited to see what will happen between now and Sunday, July 17, 2016, because I know that God can do immeasurably more than all I ask or imagine. 

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Please pray for me as I finish out my last week here.  Pray that all of God’s purposes for me in these last few days will be fulfilled for His glory.  Please also pray for my travels….I had a knee injury a week and a half ago.  I’m still in a lot of pain and am unable to bend my knee, so traveling on a bus for 7 hours and then on an airplane for 12 should be somewhat interesting J  Thank you for your prayers….as always they are so needed and appreciated!

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

Neither are your ways my ways,”

declares the LORD.

"As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Isaiah 55:8-9

My three 3-year olds came to bring me get well cards for my knee :)